What is the significance of a huge total that can't win you the test match? well, not much more than a mention in record books..

New Zealand have twice made their highest test score against India, once at foreign venue in Mohali and then recently under home conditions at Napier. both times, Kiwis failed to win the game.

Lets pick the highest total first, which is 630 for 6 wkts declared at Punjab cricket association ground. visitors had won a golden toss in that first test match of 2003 tour and wanted to make a clear statement. Left handed opener Mark Richardson (now a sky tv commentator) made painful 145 from 410 balls while his partner Luo Vincent helped himself to 106 off 227 balls. 231 for first wicket, New Zealanders continued on at slowish runrate as Scott Styris and then Craig McMillan scored their tons.

Declaring early on day 3, Kiwis started to chase leather as new delhi pair of Akash Chopra and Virendra Sehwag breezed their way to 164 off 47 overs. Visitors got Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar relatively cheaply but unbeaten ton from VVS Laxman saw them through to 424 allout, 6 short of saving follow-on which kiwis enforced but ran out of fuel in tank. Indians held onto a draw with 6 wkts in hand after 69 testing overs.

Similar script was followed in that Napier match where Jesse Ryder made his maiden double ton while Ross Taylor contributed quickfire 151 off just 204 balls. Brendon McCullum made 115 and Daniel Vettori 55 before home team declared, secured 314 run lead but Indians batted out 180 overs (Gambhir 137, VVS Laxman 124*) to earn a hard fought draw.

Highest test total by India against New Zealand is 583 for 7 wkts at Sardar Patel stadium in Motera. Sachin Tendulkar had made his second highest test score of 217 while lefty lazy elegance of Sadgoppan Ramesh had made a ton too along with Sourav Ganguly's 125. Sachin Tendulkar was captain of India in this match and he even came out to open the innings as Indians pressed for a win late on day 4, stretching their lead to set a target of 424 for Kiwis to chase. Bowling artillery of Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh could snatch just 2 wkts from 95 overs before both captains agreed to sattle for a draw.

Interesting is that December 1955 test match at Delhi where Indians batted out no less than 241.5 overs. Kiwis had scored a significant 450 for 2 on that flat pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla ground and Indians had no where to go but bat and bat. Vijay Manjrekar made 177 after 10 hours of stay at the crease.

What are the other highest team scores in Ind v NZ test matches? following list is your answer, limited to totals over 500.

Highest totals (team scores) in India v New Zealand test matches.

Team

Total

Overs

Inns

Venue

Date

New Zealand

630/6d

198.3

1st

Mohali

16 Oct 2003

New Zealand

619/9d

154.4

1st

Napier

26 Mar 2009

India

583/7d

178.0

1st

Ahmedabad

29 Oct 1999

India

537/3d

177.0

1st

Chennai

6 Jan 1956

India

531/7d

241.5

2nd

Delhi

16 Dec 1955

India

524/9d

168.0

1st

Kanpur

18 Nov 1976

India

520/10

152.4

2nd

Hamilton

18 Mar 2009

India

505/3d

183

3rd

Mohali

10 Oct 1999

New Zealand

502/10

186.0

1st

Christchurch

22 Feb 1968

India

500/5d

159.0

1st

Ahmedabad

8 Oct 2003

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